2019 Toyota RAV4 teased with concept’s styling

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 has been teased before its full reveal at the 2018 New York Motor Show, with an outline of the vehicle being revealed against a sunset.

So, not a lot of detail just yet.

With just one shadowy image released, it’s clear that Toyota is hiding its styling, and even a bit of image manipulation gives us no further clues as to how it will look.

However, previous comments by Toyota could hold the clue to the new RAV4’s styling, which should be more than concept-like.

When the Toyota FT-AC Concept was shown at the Los Angeles Motor Show last year, the company said it was just a styling exercise, and it seems that public interest has generated enough enthusiasm for the project to reach production. But a line in the press release reveals something interesting.

Speaking of the FT-AC, Toyota said: “Its bold and daring design reflects the confident spirit of Toyota’s existing SUVs”. Does that mean the FT-AC portends a new SUV design language? It seems so.

While details of the RAV4’s drivetrain haven’t been confirmed, we do know that it will likely feature two or three different drivetrains. There could be a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, and possibly a plug-in hybrid set up as well, but we’re banking of a continuation of the naturally aspirated four-cylinder that is found in most of Toyota’s mid-size products.

Toyota isn’t one to be progressive with powertrains, after all.

Again, with the same platform as used on the FT-AC concept, the RAV4 and the forthcoming “adventure” SUV will probably share plenty of components.

This means there may also be an advanced torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system similar to what was shown on the concept car. As a lifestyle vehicle, the new RAV4 needs to be good off-road.

All will be revealed when the New York International Auto Show kicks off in a couple of weeks.

For those who want to watch a live stream of the RAV4’s unveiling, they can do so by clicking here.

A passionate writer, editor and driver, Karl is the go-to man when it comes to four wheels. With stints in television, radio, print and online, Karl has been writing about cars for more than a decade. He drives around 100 vehicles every year and has tested everything from Bugattis to Suzukis. Sometimes on track, sometimes off-road, his focus is on producing objective journalism without fear or favour.

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